Tag Archives: Joel Landsberg

It’s time for another artist update; bringing you news from artists that have played at Chestnut House Concerts.

Adrien Reju recently signed with Big Hassle Management in Philadelphia and her tour schedule going in to 2014 is full including 4 April shows in Florida opening for Amos Lee.

The Kruger Brothers released Spirit of the Rockies which was recorded at The Banff Centre, in Banff, Alberta Canada. All music was written and scored by Jens Kruger and the story line – following a man’s journey of young love through a life time – was written by both Jens and Uwe Kruger. Jens on banjo, Uwe on guitar, Joel Lansberg on bass, Josh Day on percussion and they are joined by the Banff Centre Chamber Orchestra.

Della Mae at the 2014 Grammys. Shelby Means is on the far left.

Shelby Means played at Chestnut House Concerts on December 27, 2013 with the Tanasi Ramblers. She is the bass player for Della Mae whose album This World Oft Can Be was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year in the 2014 Grammys.

Baby girl Ida Maeve Robertson Lindsay joined The Birds of Chicago family on December 30, 2013. Here’s a photo of Ida on the way to get her passport for the upcoming February tour in Europe, and one of her just being her cute self.

Laney Jones and the Lively Spirits will be at Chestnut House Concerts on Friday, February 21, 2014. Potluck at 6, show at 7. We hope you can attend. Check the About section for more information on how to reserve seats.

Before Tim moved from Portland, Oregon to Lancaster, he sent me Forever and a Day and Between the Notes, two recordings by the Krüger Brothers. I became familiar with many of their songs and then I had the opportunity to hear them last year at Common Ground on the Hill. They started the set with Round & Round – a song about growing old, keeping friends, how hard it is for us to balance everything in life so that we find time for family…and tears welled up in my eyes – I was with old friends.

On Sunday, April 7th we’ll meet again – and I trust that everyone attending will find as we did; that Jens and Uwe Krüger and bassist Joel Landsberg are not only extremely talented musicians, they are warm, friendly and as Adam Steffy, one of the greatest mandolin players in bluegrass says “the nicest guys you’ll ever meet”.

Here’s a video recorded at their studio Double Time Music in North Carolina.

“Seems like you were gone forever – but for you I’ll wait forever…and a day.” (Jens & Uwe Krüger, Joel Landsberg)

On Thursday, July 24, 1975 my brother chopped up my musical clock while mowing the lawn. In his defense, our grass did get pretty tall between cuttings; a well manicured lawn was not a priority on our dairy farm, and truthfully, whoever had the clock last was more to blame.

Before surmising that I have a freakishly powerful memory, please understand that my mother made daily journal entries for most of her life. It’s become a great fact-checking resource over the years plus great reading, even if you aren’t a relative. On the day following the musical clock incident we were traveling in a car that was low on gas and we ran out at the top of the last hill and coasted home.

I was pretty sad about the clock. Although it only played the old 1876 tune “Grandfather’s Clock” over & over, I knew most of the song and would karaoke while other family members added the harmony.

“…it stopped, short, never to go again when the old man died”.

It takes quite a bit to impress an eight year old these days, but back then I was simply quite amazed that my chipped up clock continued to work. The dial in the back was still intact and the wound up clock still made music though it wasn’t visually appealing. I thought Fisher Price should know. Besides, I heard stories of other children who wrote letters to companies and in turn received free things and was inspired. My mother helped me write a letter to Fisher Price and I bragged about how my battered clock still functioned and how this toy must be very well made. I made sure to add how sad I was that this unfortunate event occurred.

When mail addressed to me from Fisher Price arrived several weeks later, the envelope only contained a thank you letter, and sadly, no coupon for another toy clock though I purchased one years later at an antique market for memory’s sake.

Our next scheduled show is the Krüger Brothers at 7:00 pm on a Sunday evening, April 7th. Many artists have covered “Grandfather’s Clock” including the great Doc Watson. Here is The Krüger Brothers’ version. We hope you can join us for this special house concert in the spring.

At the April Verch house concert last week, someone asked about the upcoming show on April 7, 2013. I excitedly told them about the Kruger Brothers and how thrilled we are to host them at our house concert venue. Then came the logical question from someone who hasn’t heard the band, “What type of music do they play?” I struggled a bit. Bluegrass? Folk? Classical? Jazz?

Natives of Switzerland, brothers Jens and Uwe Krüger started performing regularly by the time they were 11 and 12 years old, and began their professional career in 1979. The music of bluegrass greats Doc Watson, Flatt and Scruggs, and Bill Monroe made it across the ocean and influenced the brothers at a young age. Jens is known as one of the best five-string banjo players in the business. Joel Landsberg, a native of New York City joined the brothers in the early 90s and together they established the incomparable sound that the trio is known for today.

I thought perhaps I should freshen up on details from the Krüger Brother’s press kit so that I was better prepared for questions about our next house concert. The introduction reads:

“Intense and tranquil; classic, classy and classical; jazzy and grassy – all at the same time.”

I do know what I am talking about after all, and you can also trust me when I say, you don’t want to miss this show. Sunday, April 7, 2013. Potluck at 6:00, Show at 7:00. There’s no better way to end the weekend.

603 West Chestnut, Lancaster, PA

House concerts are a friendly and informal way to experience live music. Arrive early and bring food and/or beverage to share. A suggested donation is $15 - $20; all money goes directly to the musicians. Go to the "Attending a Show" section to learn more.